Ask PPH

The Regional Public Health Networks (RPHNs) of New Hampshire have been actively and tirelessly working to rollout the administering of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the Granite State. Here in the Winnipesaukee region, partner collaboration and dedicated volunteers have resulted in 19 different vaccination clinics with over 2,200 doses have been administered to community members to date. As the vaccine rollout on Phase 1b continues on, accessing vulnerable populations remains a priority for the RPHNs with a particular focus on homebound individuals.

According to the NH COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy for Homebound Populations released on March 3rd, “NH’s Vaccine Equity Allocation Guidelines identify all persons who are homebound or who have physical barriers to travel to state or other vaccine points of dispensing sites as priority populations to be vaccinated. Data show that certain populations are more vulnerable to severe illness and death from COVID-19. The current system in NH of distributing vaccines will work for most, but not all people. DHHS is increasing vaccine access to these vulnerable populations by addressing physical, language, social and transportation barriers” (link: http://bit.ly/NHcovid).

There are several conditions that fit the definition of being homebound according to the NH COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Guidelines. For instance, an individual can be considered homebound if their physician believes that their health or illness could get worse if they leave their home. If an individual requires the help of another person and/or medical equipment to leave the home or find it difficult to leave the home and typically cannot do so is another way to define as homebound. Physical barriers to travel to the state-sponsored and/or other organized vaccine points of distribution, such as access to transportation, which hinders the ability to access vaccine, can also be viewed as being homebound.

Homebound individuals who reside in Senior Living Communities, Housing and Urban Development-supported senior housing complexes, and municipally-owned senior housing complexes will have onsite COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Additionally, homebound individuals that are currently being served by home health care organizations, by DHHS programs like the Choices for Independence Program, and by social service agencies (for example, non-medical home care, Meals on Wheels, Community Action Programs, transportation services, etc.) will also be offered access to the vaccine through these organizations, agencies, and/or programs. This should ensure that most of NH’s homebound are offered the COVID-19 vaccine given their designation as members of the medically vulnerable population.

What if you are a homebound individual not living in one of these communities and not connected to home health or social service organizations? For those homebound individuals (and their caregivers), they should call NH 2-1-1 where the Call Center staff will screen them for an in-home visit and collect their demographics. The Covid-19 Coordinating Office will then provide these referrals to the RPHN serving the region where the individual resides. The RPHN will contact each individual to introduce themselves, provide information about the program, discuss options to be vaccinated and schedule the individual for a vaccination visit. Should transportation be the barrier, or NH 2-1-1 is unable to determine if the individual is eligible for an in-home vaccine appointment, the caller will be transferred to the Homebound Call Center in the CCO. If the caller can visit a fixed vaccination site, but needs transportation, a vaccination appointment will be made, and the caller will be connected to a dispatcher who will arrange transportation to the site.

The RPHN strategies for vaccinating homebound individuals unable to be vaccinated at a fixed state or other site include: “1. Working with DHHS-contracted home health and other organizations to vaccinate people in their home; 2. Utilizing RPHN-established mobile teams, including Medical Reserve Corps members to vaccinate people in their home; 3. Collaborating with community partners to utilize mobile vans to vaccinate people in their home; and 4. Collaborating with municipal EMS and other agencies contracted by DHHS to vaccinate people in their home” (link: http://bit.ly/NHcovid). These strategies are being implemented to make certain that medically vulnerable, homebound individuals have the same opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as those not hindered by health concerns, mobility issues, and/or transportation barriers.

Collaboration and partnership are the backbone of the work done by the RPHNs, and the COVID-19 vaccine distribution has demonstrated that. Working together and coordinating with the state, community organizations, and devoted volunteers will continue to be a priority during this pandemic. As the progression of the vaccination rollout continues from one phase to the next, you can count on the RPHNs to be leading the way.